(Photo by Shelley Hanson) The River High Baseball Team 2025.

River High School Baseball will be hitting the diamond with a strong roster of players this season including returning seniors Lucas Dennis and Peyton Blue.

Dennis, a center fielder, pitcher and catcher, is an All East District, All OVAC and All MOVL player.

“He is a three-sport standout and batted .400 last spring,” said Head Coach Tim Blue. “He can run the ball down in center field. He’s a very good all-around athlete. Lucas this past fall was an All-Ohio football honoree. He is a three-year starter and letterwinner.”

Peyton Blue, a first baseman, third baseman and pitcher, is a three-time All Ohio, East District, MOVL, OVAC, All Valley and was OVAC Player of the Year as a sophomore.

“Peyton batted .508 last spring. He is one of the Top 3 sport athletes in the OVAC. Peyton was also first team All Ohio in football,” Blue said. “Peyton has signed to play collegiately at WVU Potomac State. He is a three-year starter and letter winner.”

The Pilots also have a strong contingent of juniors this season in Easton Huntsman, Kaden Hunt, Cale Willis, Cody Simon and Wyatt Majors.

Huntsman, an infielder and pitcher, is a transfer from Barnesville.

“We’re looking for big things from Easton offensively, defensively and on the mound,” Blue said. “He will only be eligible for the first 13 games.”

Hunt, a second baseman, shortstop and pitcher, is a two-year starter and letter winner.

“We are looking for a breakout year from him,” Blue said.

Willis, a catcher and outfielder, will revive his dual role as part-time catcher and outfielder.

“We’re looking for Cale to make a difference hitting this spring. Cale is a letterwinner and starter,” Blue said.

Simon, an outfielder, played left field last season. He is also a letterwinner and starter.

“We’re looking for his bat to make some noise this spring,” Blue said.

This will be Majors’ first time playing high school baseball. He will pitch and play outfield.

“Wyatt looks to toe the rubber a lot this spring,” Blue said.

Rounding out the team are four sophomores – Trey Larrick, Ty Nething, Wyatt Stalder and Merric Miller.

Larrick, a middle infielder, pitcher and outfielder, can play many positions.

“We’re looking for Trey to help us in any positions and hoping his bat comes around this spring. Trey is a letter winner,” Blue said.

Nething, a first baseman, outfielder and pitcher, is a letter winner who “threw some quality innings for us last year,” Blue said.

“He came up with a few timely hits,” he added. “We’re looking for him to step up and excel this spring.”

Stalder, a first baseman, outfielder and pitcher, is another letter winner with a variety of skills on the field.

“Wyatt played many positions for us last year. He was a versatile player for us last spring, playing many positions; we’re looking for the same this spring,” Blue said.

Miller, an outfielder, will have his inaugural season as a Pilot this year.

“Merric is a very hard worker; we’re looking forward to seeing him advance,” Blue said.

River will start its season with two away games against Shadyside and Barnesville on March 31 and April 1, respectively. Its first home game at Martin Flannery Field will be against Caldwell at 5 p.m. April 2.

“Our schedule has not changed much. We play all the big schools in the MOVL including powerhouse Barnesville along with playing in the Tyler Wood Bat tournament, playing perennial state contender Toronto and playing bigger schools like Bellaire and Union Local,” Blue said.

This will be Coach Blue’s fifth season at the helm at River. He has coached baseball for a total of 11 years. His coaching staff includes Matt Abbott, who is returning to work with the Pilot pitchers, and Tucker Roberts, who will work with the defense.